Discuss Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig:How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

Created: 01/16/18

Replies: 14

Posted Jan. 16, 2018
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gailh

Join Date: 08/26/17

Posts: 11

Point of View

How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes? Would we have gained a different perspective on Gloria's motives? Brian & Maura's?

Posted Jan. 17, 2018
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deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 186

Expert

RE: Point of View

That would have been interesting, although it would have interfered with the author's intent.

Posted Jan. 18, 2018
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ABeman

Join Date: 01/14/15

Posts: 25

RE: Point of View

Changing the POV changes the focus, and we needed to be able to live in Ginny's head. Most of us already live in the non-spectrum world. This book and its POV allowed us to live in, and empathize with, a person with autism.

Posted Jan. 18, 2018
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nancyh

Join Date: 06/25/13

Posts: 188

Expert

RE: Point of View

That would change the whole story and it would not be Ginny's story any more. It should stay with only Ginny's thoughts

Posted Jan. 19, 2018
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ColoradoGirl

Join Date: 05/16/16

Posts: 34

RE: Point of View

I agree what others have shared. With most books, I feel that it is a richer story to get multiple points of view, but this book is all Ginny, starting with the title.

Posted Jan. 19, 2018
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renem

Join Date: 12/01/16

Posts: 204

Expert

RE: Point of View

I appreciated the book from Ginny's point of view. I think the author gave enough information about the other characters for us to imagine their view, but most people don't understand how or why people with autism think or act the way they do.

Posted Jan. 19, 2018
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gailh

Join Date: 08/26/17

Posts: 11

RE: Point of View

Interesting reflections on the topic I introduced. Sometimes, I found Ginny's viewpoint rather simplistic & predictable. I would have appreciated hearing more from the less sympathetic characters such as Gloria & Maura. I understood why the author wrote the way he did but also felt like he was not fair to some of the less likable characters.

Posted Jan. 20, 2018
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viquig

Join Date: 06/25/14

Posts: 24

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

By having the narrator be Ginny, the reader is immersed in Ginny's world and mind. I think the writing with this point of view made the novel more interesting, unique and compelling. Other narrators would have diluted the impact of the novel.

Posted Jan. 20, 2018
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janicea

Join Date: 04/20/17

Posts: 12

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

The tone of the book would be different and I would not have gotten to know Ginny to the extent that I did. I think one of the purposes of using Ginny’s voice throughout the book was for the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the autism spectrum (at least Ginny’s place on it) and interacting with someone who is on the spectrum. Other voices, especially Gloria and Crystal with a C, would have been too self-involved to include Ginny and her experiences.

Posted Jan. 21, 2018
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jenniferj

Join Date: 09/30/17

Posts: 39

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

Although it would have changed the voice of the book, I would have appreciated knowing more about Ginny’s story from the various points of view. For instance, were Ginny’s mental issues simply a result of autism or were they combined with the results of being born to an addicted mother? Other points of view would have added details to her history to provide context for her narrative.

Posted Jan. 21, 2018
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kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 353

Expert

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

I think it would have lost its impact. Having the whole story told in Ginny's voice made it much more interesting to me than I think it would have been otherwise.

Posted Jan. 24, 2018
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rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 380

Expert

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

I am glad that this book stayed with a consistent point of view. I think chapters of switched narrators would have detracted from this story, and that literary device simply was not needed. The author did an excellent job of conveying the borderline anger and fear of Ginny's adoptive mother as well as the frustrations of other adults when one is unable to elicit the behavior that is desired. Even the birth mother's sarcastic "have a good life' comment at the end helped to convey her anger and lack of true love for Ginny.

Posted Jan. 25, 2018
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bettyt

Join Date: 05/12/11

Posts: 184

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RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

I think it was important to stay with Ginny's perspective. This was her reality, not ours.

Posted Jan. 26, 2018
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andreab

Join Date: 07/29/14

Posts: 101

Expert

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

Multiple narrators would have detracted from the story. It would have over-complicated the storyline and likely made Ginny's voice simplistic when compared to the others. She had a black and white way of looking at things and any other speakers would have taken the focus away from her experiences.

Posted Feb. 06, 2018
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mal

Join Date: 09/09/13

Posts: 164

Expert

RE: How do you think this novel would have been different if various narrators were allowed to contribute rather than seeing the story strictly through Ginny's eyes?

Having Ginny narrate makes the book a success. Not sure of others POV would have been as powerful or interesting. Multiple narrators can cloud the crux of the story. The story is Ginny's and having it unfold through her eyes only makes perfect sense